Read Kamala Harris' Vice Presidential Election Speech
On Saturday, November 7, Kamala Harris delivered an emotional victory speech as the first woman, first black, and first South Asian vice president-elect. Dressed in a white pantsuit (likely a tribute to Hillary Clinton and suffragists before her), Harris recognized the historic glass-breaking moment and thanked women, including her immigrant mother (opens in new tab), who paved the way for her to serve in the White House with President-elect Joe Biden He thanked the women who had been in the White House.
A full transcript of Kamala Harris' speech is below.
Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening. Thank you. Good evening. Thank you. Congressman John Lewis wrote before he died, "Democracy is an act, not a state." And what he meant was that democracy in America is not guaranteed.
Democracy is only as strong as our will to fight for it. We must defend democracy and never take it for granted. And defending democracy requires struggle. It requires sacrifice. But there is joy in it.
And there is progress. Because we, the people, have the power to build a better future.
And when our very democracy was put to a vote in this election, where the soul of America is at stake and the world is watching, you heralded a new day in America. Thank you to this amazing team of election staff and volunteers for engaging more people in the democratic process than ever before.
And for making this victory possible. To the poll workers and election officials across the country who worked tirelessly to ensure that every vote was counted, our country owes you a debt of gratitude.
You have protected the integrity of our democracy. And to the American people who make up our beautiful country, thank you for coming out to vote in record numbers to make your voices heard. I know these have been difficult times, especially in the last few months.
Sadness, grief, pain, worry, and struggle, but we have also witnessed your courage, resilience, and generosity of spirit; for four years you have marched, organized, and voted for equality and justice for our lives and our planet.
And you have delivered a clear message. You chose hope, unity, decency, science, and truth. And you chose Joe Biden as your next president.
And Joe is a healer, a uniter, a tried and sure hand. His own experience of loss gives him a sense of purpose, which helps us as a nation regain our own sense of purpose. And a man with a big heart who loves uninhibitedly. It is his love for Jill, who will be a wonderful First Lady.
It is his love for Hunter, Ashley, his grandchildren, and the entire Biden family. And while I first got to know Joe as Vice President, I really got to know him as a father who loved my dear friend, Bo, whom we remember here today.
And to my husband Doug (opens in new tab), my children Cole and Ella, my sister Maya, and our entire family, I love you all more than I can express. I am so grateful to Joe and Jill for having our family on this amazing journey. And to the woman most responsible for me being here today, my mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris. When she came here from India at the age of 19, she could never have imagined this moment.
But she deeply believed in America, where moments like this were possible. So I think about her and about generations of women, black women, Asian women, white women, Latina women, and Native American women. This includes black women, who are often overlooked, but who have proven to be the backbone of our democracy.
A new generation of women in our country who have fought for their fundamental rights to vote and be heard, from the 19th Amendment over 100 years ago, to the Voting Rights Act 55 years ago, and now in 2020.
Tonight, I reflect on their struggle, their determination, and the strength of their vision to see a future unbound by the past. And I stand on their shoulders. And it is a testament to Joe's character that he had the audacity to break down one of the most substantial barriers that exist in our country and choose a woman as his vice president.
But while I may be the first woman to serve in this position, I will not be the last. Because every girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. And to the children of this country, regardless of gender, our country is sending you a clear message: dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see yourself in ways others have never seen.
But know that we applaud every step along the way. Because now the real work begins, the hard work, the necessary work, the good work, the essential work of saving lives and defeating this epidemic.
Rebuild the economy for working people and eradicate systemic racism in the justice system and society. Fight the climate crisis, unite the nation, and heal the soul of the country. The road ahead is not easy. But America is ready. And so are Joe and I.
We have elected a president who represents the best in us, a leader the world respects and our children look up to. He is the Commander in Chief who respects our military, the Commander in Chief who keeps our country safe, and the President for all Americans.
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